What dog breed would be good for a first time dog owner?

Pumpkin: What dog breed would be good for a first time dog owner?
I’d like a small dog and easy to care for. A dog that’s good with kids and easy to train. Any suggestions?

Answers and Views:

Answer by acwehse
My boyfriend’s parents have a dachsund (Oscar). He’s a great little dog, very very loyal, obedient, good for people with allergies because of the supershort hair. Oscar loves people, kids especially.

Answer by smashinglin
Hiya 🙂 ! I think Labradors or Golden Retrievers (or mixed) would be best. They are just great with everyone 🙂 !

Answer by mish
i would suggest an American or British cocker spaniel. the American cocker spaniel has long hair and is very royal but cute.the British cocker spaniel has a less amount of hair and is very active and friendly. the other two dogs you can keep are golden retrievers and daschunds .

Answer by pet
Depends on what you want it for, do you want to do sporting with it or just walks and cuddles do your research on the net looking up each dog for it personality and temperament, size if you want it to sleep on the bed.If you look into it more you may find a dog you never thought of in the first place would be the dog just for you.

Answer by sharareed151
Depends what you’d like it to do. If you want it to be small and easy then choose chihuahua. But if u wannna have a loyal, friendly one, then pick a lab, lab-cross, golden retriever, golden retriever-cross, or samoyed. (if you didnt know this, cross-breeds/mongrels are cheeper.) and sometime u can get pups for free if they’re just born.

Answer by unicrngrrl352
For my first dog I have a Chihuahua/fox terrier mix. That so far has been a good breed mix for the whole litter received the best of each parent. Tiny for going places but is gentle. The only problem you’ll encounter like with any small breed is the bladder. Very small and must be watched.

Answer by alonzofairleyjr
IT DEPENDS ON YOUR FINACIAL STATUS AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE COMITTED TO THE DOG’S NEEDS “IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH” Because, I believe that your animals are more than just your pet’s they are your children…. so i suggest that you research it first then decide if you’re going to get a dog

Answer by MissNurse
Basset Hound

Answer by Elena
Labradors they are so friendly and calm when kids are around.
But before you get one read alot about having a dog.
Heres some stuff with the sort of things you need to get before you buy your dog……
Buckle collar: leather or non-stretch material. Make sure it is “2-fingers” snug and can’t come off.
ID tag: attached securely to collar.
Training (slip) collar, harness or head collar: Measure the neck and add 3 ” for the proper length – just long enough to fit over the head. Learn how to put it on right. Good alternatives include neck/body harnesses and head halters, which are fitted.
lead: strong clasp and thick leather or double-ply woven for your comfort.
Note: use another person or a crate/carrier to transport a puppy to contain any “accidents.”
Things to get ready at home:
Crate:An invaluable tool, especially at the beginning. Avoid crating a dog for more than 5 hours. Place safe toys inside. Folding crates are also ideal for traveling. If the dog chews on crate bars, get the Vari-kennel or airline crate. Make sure the crate is large enough for dog when full grown; you can block off part for a pup.
Baby gates: a good confinement alternative. Make sure dog can’t get head/paws caught in gate, can’t chew threw or knock down the gate or jump the gate.
Bedding: easy to clean, thick enough for comfort.
Puppy pen: helpful when you want a pup confined but not crated.
Water and food bowls: use stainless steel or ceramic with no painting in the inside. Plastic can absorb bacteria and smell.
Flea comb: check for fleas, and comb to aid the skin. Good “shedding” control, too.
Brush: brush daily; good for skin and can be better than bathing.
Grooming supplies: get the right tools for your dog if you’re going to bathe, clip claws and cut fur yourself. Different coats require different brushes.
Pet-specific cleaners: such as Simple Solution or Nature’s Miracle, available from pet supply stores. They remove pet stains and odors.
20-foot leash: good for training the “come” command.
Food: gradually change over to the food of your choice. Use a good grade of dog food. Premium dog food can lead to lower vet bills. Dry food is good for teeth and digestion. No table scraps: feeding table scraps encourages begging. It’s your job to keep food out of reach.
Biscuits: avoid those with food coloring. Use to reward good behavior.
Low-fat plain yogurt, grated organic carrots and parsley: good daily diet supplements.
Organic apple cider vinegar: a little added to water bowl daily can help digestion and deter fleas.
Rescue Remedy (available in health food stores): calms when traveling, nervous or injured.
Toys: use safe chew toys, such as non-rawhide-based chew-strips. Soft toys are good for some dogs, but others will pull them apart, so remove if this happens.
No rawhide bones: they can be rough on digestion, cause choking – plus rawhides, pigs hooves and other too-highly covered treats can incite dogs to fight over them.
Beware of hooves and hard-packed chews/bones that can crack teeth.
No chicken bones: they splinter and can cause internal injuries.

Getting a dog license:
Contact a vet or shelter in your area to license your dog. You must have a rabies certificate. In some jurisdictions, proof of spay/neuter reduces the license fee.

You can buy dogs from shelters or breeders but PLEASE don’t buy one from a pet shop.
Pet shops buy in puppies from puppy mills and you don’t want to buy one of them they’re like calve veals.

Get your dog microchipped so when he/she gets lost you can track them down.

Injections:
Puppies must be vaccinated against certain serious disease and given regular boosters (further injections) throughout their life. Your veterinary surgeon will be able to advise you on this. Many dogs suffer from parasites (tiny living things which live on other creatures), such as mites which cause sores in the ears – ear canker. Treatment is available from your veterinary surgeon.Dogs should be routinely treated against worms, which are parasites living in the gut. Tablets are available from your veterinary surgeon and should be given to dogsregularly throughout their life. A dog can become overweight if it does not get enough exercise, or if it is given too much food or the wrong sort of food. A good diet is especially important for older dogs. Ask your veterinary surgeon for advice. A dog will have overgrown claws if it does not exercise on hard surfaces. These can be clipped by a veterinary surgeon.A poor coat may indicate a lack of regular brushing, but could also result from poor diet, parasites or the fungal disease ringworm. If you suspect that your dog has ringworm, seek veterinary advice straight away. It is a good idea to take out insurance to cover veterinary fees for your dog. If you have any concerns about your dog’s health askyour veterinary surgeon for advice.

Thousands of unwanted puppies are born every year, and the RSPCA strongly advises that dogs should be neutered at an early age to stop them producing puppies. Neutering is a straightforward operation that can be arranged with a veterinary surgeon.
Female dogs (bitches) that have not been neutered come into season (a time when they can become pregnant) up to twice a year and may have up to 12 puppies in each litter. Puppies should stay with their mother until theyare at least eight weeks old.
GOOD LUCK!
I hope you find a lovely pup.

Answer by manuelgon_1999
If you have small children, think twice…Are you committed? It is a lot of work! Easy to train doesn’t mean that you can just send them to school and PRESTO! problem solved, you need to learn yourself how to communicate. It is a lot of work. However, it is a real joy and a very good tool to show your kids about being responsible. If you are really committed, then get a boxer.

Answer by metzger52365
The below site is a good one to research breeds.It will give you info on size,temperament,exercise and grooming requirements,and health problems associated with the breed.It also offers a search option of breeds considered good with children.Its a good site to research what you will be getting into with a breed,so you wont have surprises down the road.Some small dogs are hard to potty train,the site will also let you know things like that.The more you research a breed,the less likely you would ever have to get rid of it due to something you didn’t know about.Click the want more search options link on the page for the search about which dogs do good with children,as well as other options.